Costumebase updating its TFA flightsuit/vest this summer

Thanamira (Dave Leung)

I sent email to Costumebase with all of the changes I had to make to my flightsuit and vest, asking them to incorporate them for future runs. They said they'd do that, and that new inventory would be available sometime this summer.

If anyone has experience dealing with Costumebase such that we can get verification of the changes, that'd be great - several Alderaan Base members are interested in this costume, but are weak at sewing, so they'd be dependent on the Costumebase set being out-of-the-box accurate. Let me know, and I'd be happy to work with Costumebase's people.

Flightsuit:
* Upper right leg pocket moved to front of leg
* Lower right pocket & flap moved to front of leg
* Lower left pocket moved to front of leg
* Add inner flap and detail stitching added to upper left leg
* Remove rear pockets

Vest:
* The Aurebesh lettering needs to be printed upside down. The lettering is correct, but it needs to be rotated 180' in its position.
* The Republic bird needs to be a smaller diameter.
* The black dot needs to be a smaller diameter.

I wouldn't expect Costumebase to just magically get it right, so I'm very willing to help them out. I just don't know if I'm talking to the right people over there.
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2019 Phantom Squadron SCO (Alderaan Base)

President, Boston Lightsaber Stage Combat Club
Approved costumes: Jedi Knight (generic) | X-wing pilot (TLJ briefing room)
Photo by Benn Robbins Photography

Jayben Kenobi (Joshua Curry) · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:30 pm Post subject:

This is excellent. I know that a lot of people find it very difficult to complete the pilots from TFA because of the suits and vests. Its just hard for folks that don't know how to sew.

Delpa Gival (Patrick Delieto) · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 2:53 am Post subject:

The vest I know is horrible, but with pocket modifications, is the flight suit alone approvable?

http://www.thecostumebase.com/resistance-pilot-tfa-costume/
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JediXXL (Gil Guemes) · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 11:28 am Post subject:

With the above listed modifications, I believe the suit would be acceptable.
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phantom8 (Brian Anderson) · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 7:40 pm Post subject:

Strongbow () · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:43 am Post subject:

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but the top of the chaps is completely wrong. The chaps should attach long the hip, below the waist seam. Also, the chaps should completely surround the leg. The costume base suit only attaches to the front of the leg.

Here's a pic showing the seam.

Philonius () · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 5:09 am Post subject:

Wow. Good googly-moogly, you're going to need sewing skills just to convert them to be mostly correct! I'd have to handle one in person too. Just looks like more trouble than it's worth, but this coming from me who's made 7 of these suits.
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hofmann (Matt Hofmann) · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:35 pm Post subject:

I'm not going to speak for all the LCJs, but as an LCJ myself and someone with the costume, I would not accept the flightsuit without serious modifications.
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phantom8 (Brian Anderson) · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 5:32 pm Post subject:

I guess the question becomes how correct is correct enough? I know it's impossible to make a complete judgement until you see one, but at the same time I think some questions can get answered for sure.

For instance: if the back of the chap is a 100% blocker, then the handful of folks working on these might as well stop now.

The pockets so far seem manageable. I don't have a pic handy but I've rebuild the thigh pocket to have the correct flaps/openings/ripstop strip. Between moving them and rebuilding some parts with the excess from the very long legs, that seems plausible, as does moving the loops on the sleeve.

What it has going for it is that it's a breathable fabric in a reasonable color, with most of the tailoring as a garment handled pretty well. Sewing is a big blocker for a lot of people, and hiring out to make them if you can't yourself is pricey.

If there's a way to make a good enough version out of something readily available, it will make growing the pilot base a lot easier. At the prices of these things, even buying two and combining them is still a lot cheaper than hiring out to get a custom one made.

It would be a big help to understand just what exactly is needed detail-wise for approval.
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Redwillow () · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 5:57 pm Post subject:

JediXXL (Gil Guemes) · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:22 pm Post subject:

Philonius () · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:50 am Post subject:

hofmann (Matt Hofmann) · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:31 pm Post subject:

Thanamira (Dave Leung) · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 5:31 pm Post subject:

Good to know - but I'm afraid I don't understand what is meant by "back of the chap". Can you elaborate, please?

Also, if you have higher-res photos, that'd be very helpful. You posted a shot of the side of Poe, but it's so low-res, I don't know what you're referring to. As long as you're going to the trouble of telling me stuff in advance, I'd like to get it right the first time! :)
_________________
2019 Phantom Squadron SCO (Alderaan Base)

President, Boston Lightsaber Stage Combat Club
Approved costumes: Jedi Knight (generic) | X-wing pilot (TLJ briefing room)
Photo by Benn Robbins Photography

phantom8 (Brian Anderson) · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 5:31 pm Post subject:

Great, thanks for the definitive answer!

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